Korean Studies Advancement Center Unveils 600-Year-Old "King Taejong Lee Bangwon Meritorious Subject Certificate"

Three Rare Royal Documents Unearthed from the Icheon Seo Clan

"Vividly Illustrates the Meritorious Subject System and Royal Document Framework"

Seoyu's Edict of Meritorious Subjects

The Korean Studies Advancement Center announced on March 5 that it is unveiling, for the first time, three rare royal documents, including the Jwamyunggongshin Religious Text of Seo Yu, who was a meritorious subject instrumental in placing King Taejong Lee Bangwon on the throne during the early founding days of the Joseon Dynasty.

These rare documents are among approximately 360 items entrusted to the center at the end of last year by the Yanggyeonggong lineage of the Icheon Seo clan. Notably, the Jwamyunggongshin Religious Text was personally bestowed upon Seo Yu by King Taejong in 1401 in recognition of his merits during the Second Strife of Princes. It is the second oldest surviving meritorious subject certificate from the early Joseon period, following the Founding Meritorious Subject Certificate of 1392.

Also unveiled was a royal edict (wangji) issued by King Taejo in 1394 appointing Seo Yu to office. Only 43 original royal edicts from the early Joseon period are known to remain today. Another royal edict, issued in 1402 appointing Seo Yu as a Scholar of the Hall of Worthies (Jiphyeonjeon), was also made public.

The Yanggyeonggong lineage of the Icheon Seo clan has preserved these invaluable ancestral records for over 600 years without damage. Jeong Jongseop, President of the Korean Studies Advancement Center, stated, "These are precious legacies that vividly illustrate the meritorious subject system and the royal document framework of early Joseon. We will systematically preserve and widely release these records, which have been carefully safeguarded by the lineage, to promote the value of our traditional documentary heritage."

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